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Nakagiri announced his candidacy for the nomination a year ago this month after accusing Calley of not reflecting the GOP platform, particularly its opposition to the Affordable Care Act, or “Obamacare.”

Some call Nakagiri’s effort a long shot. Others point to significant “tea party” influence in the GOP that could put him on the November ballot.

If successful, he would be only the second Michigander in history to defeat a gubernatorial candidate’s chosen running mate.

“This is definitely pretty big news right now,” said Dan Wholihan, chairman of the Livingston County Republican Party.

Wholihan will oversee Thursday’s county GOP convention, where 57 delegates and 57 alternates will be elected for the statewide convention.

Wholihan, also a Republican political consultant, said a win for Nakagiri would rely on unity among “tea party” groups statewide. He said it’s unclear if the groups, each of which has different leaders and platforms, will provide a united front for Nakagiri.

Calley made his case for re-election for the nomination to the county Republicans at the party’s July meeting.

Nakagiri, treasurer of Hartland Township-based RetakeOurGov, has been critical of Calley’s support for expanded Medicaid, a component of the Affordable Care Act.

Calley, alongside Snyder, supported a state health-care exchange, also a component of the federal law. The Republican-led Legislature later rejected a state exchange.

Delegates to the GOP convention also will determine nominations for secretary of state, attorney general, Michigan Supreme Court justices, state Board of Education and university boards.

A ‘dfference of vision’ for the office

Nakagiri said the lieutenant governor is important because he or she can break a tie vote in the state Senate and advance or stall legislation.

Nakagiri noted that Calley cast the deciding vote on a bill that, in part, created a tax on some pensions. A last-minute Senate vote on Medicaid expansion avoided a tiebreaking vote from Calley.

“Those are very significant policy decisions that are contentious. Having an opportunity to weigh in is what the lieutenant governor position would afford me,” Nakagiri explained.

He said he would work with Snyder, rather than for him. That means he would object to Snyder’s stances when he felt necessary.

“It is a difference of vision of the office, there is no question about it,” Nakagiri said. “The question for the delegates to decide is, which vision do you prefer? The status quo, the ‘yes man’ vision or one where the lieutenant governor has the obligation to speak out on behalf of our party platform?”

Calley stands by his conservative record, said John Yob, Calley’s campaign adviser. He said Calley supports Michigan’s Medicaid expansion law but strongly opposes the federal health-care law.

Yob said the difference is that Calley pushed conservative principles in Michigan’s version of Medicaid expansion, including enrollee cost-sharing requirements.

“We take every convention race seriously, but we feel that precinct delegates are smart people and know that we need to continue Michigan’s comeback with the Snyder-Calley team rather than return to the failed policies of the lost decade. Brian Calley makes the ticket a stronger ticket,” Yob said.

Only former Republican Gov. William Milliken has defeated a gubernatorial candidate’s chosen running mate.

Milliken was elected Gov. George Romney’s lieutenant governor nominee in 1965.

Milliken became governor in 1969 when Romney left office to accept a Cabinet post in the Nixon administration.